New USAID Mission Director for the Central Asian republics sworn-in in Washington

PAS No 255
September 04, 2009

Ashgabat, September 4, 2009 – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on August 31 the swearing in of Andrew Sisson as the Agency’s new mission director for the Central Asian Republics.  Alonzo Fulgham, Acting USAID Administrator presided over the ceremony and administered the oath of office to Sisson.

USAID is a U.S. government agency responsible for providing American assistance to foreign countries.  USAID currently works in approximately 100 countries around the world, including, since 1992, the countries of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.  USAID programs assist these countries to expand their economic growth, improve health services and education systems, and strengthen their democratic institutions.
Andrew Sisson is a Senior Foreign Service Officer, holding the rank of Minister Counselor.  He recently completed a two-year assignment at the National War College in June 2009, where he was on loan from USAID to teach in the Masters degree program in national security strategy to American and foreign senior military and state department officers.

“Andy Sisson is a true professional whose development expertise, demonstrated leadership abilities, and integrity will be invaluable as he leads our Mission to the Central Asian Republics,” said Fulgham.  "He has my full support and confidence."

Prior to his time at the National War College, Sisson helped establish the Office of the Director of Foreign Assistance at the State Department, where he served as Senior Coordinator for Africa.  From 2002-2006, Sisson was USAID Regional Director for East Africa, based in Nairobi, where he was responsible for aid programs in southern Sudan, Somalia, Burundi and Djibouti, as well as several cross-border regional programs.  In Kosovo from 1999-2002, as USAID Deputy Mission Director, Sisson helped launch the post-conflict aid program.  His earlier tours included Somalia, Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, India and Washington. 

Sisson earned his Bachelor of Arts from Williams College, a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy and a PhD from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a Master of Science from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at National Defense University.  His areas of interest include economic and political development, reconstruction and stabilization.